HEATHERS 5th Period


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Question
Why/is this an appropriate movie to screen in the class? Think in terms of the previous units we have discussed (names, politics, advertising).

Answer:
replace this text with your answer

The Heathers, a clique, use slang along with curse words to create an image for their group. Veronica, however, feels uncomfortable in this group because she is the only one the clique without the name Heather. Because of her name, her confidence diminishes and cannot fully obtain "groupee" status. No matter how much she tries to do what the Heathers want, she always fails miserably. Whether it be a personal decision or how others preceive her, Veronica cannot seem to fit in with the Heathers.

Veronica does not seem to fit in or have the same personality as the other Heathers which becomes evident right away simply because of her different name. It seems like she does not have a desire to be like them but sees her life, her position at school, and in her clique as inevitable. She feels helpless and stuck where her life is, not wanting to become unpopular but hating the way she has to act in order to stay that way. Veronica does not know how to break the cycle she has started. This powerless feeling leads her to taking drastic and homicidal actions with J.D. While her actions are clearly not something you see everyday, her feelings and the feelings of those she hurts are common around any school. When she kills one Heather, another steps up in her place. Veronica, seemingly different only in name, uses her individuality to stop the cycle.

However, it takes Veronica some time to find her place. We would always see the three Heathers and Veronica playing croquet together, and playing pranks on numerous other students together. It wasn't until the end of the movie, when we see Veronica playing croquet with a non-Heather, when we truly can see that she doesn't care as much about being part of that clique. Veronica even goes as far as to ask the least popular girl in school to spend prom night watching movies with her.

J.D. traps Veronica in a cycle of killing but when she feels like it has gone too far, she is forced to find out who she truly is and what is important to her. Veronica realizes that the Heathers are essentially weak. When Veronica takes the ribbon from Heather and then asks the least popular girl in school to watch movies with her, she embodies confidence and strength. This is not the same type of strength that it took to kill multiple people, it is an inner strength backed by self-confidence. This is appropriate to watch in this class in terms of what we have discussed so far. It relates to the unit about the importance of names and how one can feel independent, part of a community or clique, or even left out all because of a name.